Airbus Establishes New Pilot and Maintenance Training Center in India

[Avionics Today 03-21-2016] Airbus is establishing a pilot and maintenance training center in the National Capital Region of Delhi in India in order to support the county’s need for new Airbus pilots. According to Airbus’ latest global market forecast, India requires more than 1,600 passenger and freighter aircraft in the next 20 years to 2034, with an accompanying demand for new pilots and maintenance engineers.

The training center is a key strategic Airbus initiative in line with the country’s “Skill India” program launched in 2015 by the Indian Government to develop a wide range of advanced competencies. Airbus Group India will fully own the center with training to be delivered by Airbus’ specialized training instructors. Airbus will build the center in a modular concept in order to accommodate four A320 full-flight simulators, with potential to expand.

Airbus has been providing maintenance training from its existing center in Bangalore since 2007. Staffed by Airbus trainers, the new pilot training center will have the capacity to train more than 8,000 pilots and 2,000 maintenance engineers over 10 years from 2018 onwards.

“On an average, one Airbus aircraft per week is expected to be delivered to Indian carriers over the next 10 years. The need for top quality training will be perpetual,” said Srinivasan Dwarakanath, president of Airbus Division in India.

Airbus has shortlisted suitable sites near the airport area of Delhi, and will soon work toward finalizing the agreements for land, construction and simulator installation in 2017.